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Julie Walters, Rupert Grint, Nicholas Farrell, Laura Linney, Jim Norton ... see more see more... , Michelle Duncan , Oliver Milburn , Tamsin Egerton , Faye Cohen , Annabelle , Ruby Mortlock , Don Wetherhead , Chandra Ruegg , Ricky Champ , Rupert Holliday Evans , Harriet Brock , James Brock , Stanley Brock , Jordan Young , John Yule , Jacques Kerr , Rose Keegan , Iain McColl , Annabelle Apsion , Rita Davies

Two strong-willed women wield their influence on a shy teenaged boy in this coming-of-age comedy from the United Kingdom. Seventeen-year-old Ben (Rupert Grint) is the son of a soft-spoken vicar (Nicho... read more read more...las Farrell), but it's his mother, Laura (Laura Linney), who rules the household, and she has put Ben cheerfully under her thumb, keeping him busy with a variety of good-will errands for the church and numerous local charity causes. With summer vacation looming before him, Ben is looking forward to learning to drive, but Laura is more interested in spending time with one of the more charming members of the church staff than helping Ben learn how to operate the family automobile. Wanting to earn some pocket money, Ben starts looking for a part-time job and ends up working for Evie Walton (Julie Walters), an elderly and slightly eccentric actress who needs help keeping her garden in shape. Laura believes Evie isn't an especially good influence on her son, though Ben is happy to find someone who encourages his interest in poetry and the larger world (especially girls). One day, Evie announces that she needs to ride to Edinburgh, where she is supposed to give a reading as part of the city's massive music and arts festival. While Ben doesn't have his license, he volunteers to take the wheel, and soon he's confronted with various forms of decadence that his mother has frequently warned him to avoid. Driving Lessons received its North American premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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67% liked it

192,799 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

75 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Jeremy Brock

Release Date: October 13, 2006

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DVD Release Date: July 3, 2007

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Stats: 7,219 reviews

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DRIVING LESSONS Rupert Grint Rupert Grint Rupert Grint - Driving Lessons Rupert Grint - Driving Lessons Rupe Rupert!! Driving Lessons Ben Marshall Rupert Grint icon DRIVING LESSONS Rupert Grint Rupert Grint Rupert Grint Rupert Grint Driving Lessons DRIVING LESSONS Rupert like Ben
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Flixster Reviews (7,219)

  • LWOODS04
    May 5, 2010
    LWOODS04
    CAST: Rupert Grint, Julie Walters, Laura Linney, Nicholos Farrell, Oliver Miburn

    DIRECTED BY: Jeremy Brock

    SUMMARY: A coming of age story about a shy teenage boy trying to escape from the influence of his domineering mother. His world changes when he begins to work for a re... read moretired actress.

    MY THOUGHTS: It was exactly what I was hoping for. An offbeat dark comedy. Light on the darkness though. Julie Walters was brilliant in this movie. She's so funny in this film. First time seeing Rupert Grint in a film besides the Potter one's. He did good in this film. He plays a very shy boy but aged with a poets soul. Just wanted to watch a movie that would make me genuinely laugh without trying to hard, and this film did it for me. Fun movie with some serious stuff going on in it as well. His mother is a bit insane. My opinion, but I don't think many will disagree with that comment. But all in all, a good watch. See it if you get a chance.
  • MissMorganLeee
    October 10, 2009
    MissMorganLeee
    very charming! rupert grint comin into his own. Julie Walters was GREAT!
  • romy861
    May 16, 2009
    romy861
    Didn't quite go where I thought it would, but it was a good movie. Laura Linney plays the type of mother you would want to strangle to Ruper Grint, also good as a sheltered, shy teen who goes to work for Julie Walters's character who is either eccentric or a bit crazy. Some of ... read moreit wasn't quite believable, like the girl he picks up (or other way round, to be more exact), but this mostly works and is a good coming of age film.
  • binky013
    June 12, 2008
    binky013
    Because I would very much like to see Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe succeed in their acting work beyond the wonderful Harry Potter movies, I wanted very badly to see this. But because Laura Linney is a part of the project, I didn't exactly fire this one up my n... read moreetflix queue. It finally did bubble to the top, and I've watched this now three times with great interest.

    The good news is that Linney does not appear throughout. In fact screen time is so dominated by the relationship between Grint and Julie Walters that Linney fairly fades into the background, appearing only in the bookend (dismal) home life scenes for Grint.

    The better news is that Linney plays quite a villainous role; she's perfect for that kind of work.

    The best news, however, is that Grint does manange to do a good job of playing the repressed 17-year-old coming of age under the apt tutelage of masterfully has-been actress Walters. Their relationship is a thing of intricately problematic beauty, and both play their parts with brilliant authenticity.

    You know, it's funny watching "Ron and Mrs. Weasley" function in a different arena. It is as if Grint, in this gem of a film, is living under the stairs on horrid Privet Drive and is trying to find his way to the wholesome environs of The Burrow. I am feeling optimistic about Grint's chances to go on and do good work once the HP franchise has run its course.

    Last but certainly not least: Whoohoo! I want to see more of Michelle Duncan. Makes me want to jump on a plane for Scotland : )
  • mwilliams078
    April 22, 2008
    mwilliams078
    Driving Lessons is a lovely film from over the pond in the UK.

    Julie Walters, Laura Linney, and Rupert Grint all shine in this film. This film centers on a young man (Grint) whom is coming of age and working towards his drivers license. His controlling mother (Linney) can not... read more let go and only wants the best for him. During this time he gets a job from a once very big actress (Walters) whom really gets his eyes open to the world....it is funny and poigniant, very worth watching.
  • aliceinpunderland
    October 8, 2007
    aliceinpunderland
    Shoddy amalgam of "Harold and Maude" and "Lost in Translation." In re the former: it lacked the romantic relationship between young and old, thereby omitting an entire dimension of their best friendship, replacing it with an unsatisfying age-appropriate one-night stand and a ge... read morenerally unbelievable character arc. In re the latter: it lacked the leisurely pacing that begot a certain ephemeral atmosphere in LiT, and was merely slow and sluggish.
  • fernandorafael
    July 31, 2007
    fernandorafael
    thank God i didn't give up on this movie, because at the beginning it was really boring and i almost take it out of my dvd player, but i decided to hang in there and boy, am i proud of that decision! this lovely film suddenly turned in one of my favorite movies ever, combining a ... read morebrilliant script with great actors, photography, soundtrack, with a mixture of drama and comedy that you should NOT miss, Rupert Grint and Julie Walters have great chemistry, and it shows in this movie, cause in the Harry Potter movies you can't really see it...great performances by these two english actors, and also by Laura Linney!
  • gator681
    March 2, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Driving Lessons" starts with Ben(Rupert Grint) failing his driving test in spectacular fashion. His father(Nicholas Farrell) is the local minister and his mother(Laura Linney) is involved in various charitable projects including giving shelter to a local ma... read moren, Mr. Fincham(Jim Norton). In order to further help him get on his feet, she asks Ben to get a job which he does assisting an eccentric and selfish actress, Evie(Julie Walters). The job goes well and Evie asks Ben to go camping with her...[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]"Driving Lessons" is a hideously awful movie full of thinly drawn caricatures(I'm sure all actors are not performing all the time) and proves that even Laura Linney can give a bad performance. The movie desperately tries to be entertaining but only a few moments shine through. It is nice seeing Julie Walters in anything but not when she is trying to be Ruth Gordon.(But give Walters this much. She does know how to make an entrance.) In fact, this resembles a mishmash of every coming of age movie ever made, most specifically "Harold and Maude" but without that movie's nerve, so why bother? [/font]
  • Yinali
    November 30, 2007
    Yinali
    I liked how Rupert Grint acted in this movie. A very cool independent film on his part.
  • 9876a
    June 10, 2007
    9876a
    The only movie to feature a Harry Potter member out of their Hogwarts role, and Rupert is a bit of a revelation. Parts of this are really funny, the rest is really charming.

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Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
December 18, 2006
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Writer-director Jeremy Brock has backloaded much of the hero's family conflict into the final scenes, which collapse under the weight. Full Review

Roger Moore
November 17, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Barely worth the trip. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
November 10, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

It's an exercise in calculated high-quirk in which the most egregious forms of stereotyping -- particularly along gender and religious lines -- attempt to pass for 'human' behaviour. Full Review

Liam Lacey
November 10, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

[Brock] sticks to the inspirational formula of contemporary English sentimental comedies: that real life has little relevance. Full Review

Annemarie Moody
November 10, 2006
Annemarie Moody, Arizona Republic

Driving Lessons, with perfectly cast actors, a poignant and often hilarious script and original music, is a study in how fun British humor can be. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
November 9, 2006
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Offers a pleasant excursion down a familiar road.

Robert Denerstein
November 3, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

That's not exactly a novel premise, which may explain why this British coming-of-age story inspires too little excitement.

Lisa Kennedy
November 3, 2006
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Amiable performances and a gentle, generous chemistry between Walters and Grint make the ride pleasant. Full Review

Desson Thomson
November 2, 2006
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie's life-affirmative agenda is ploddingly clear. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
October 27, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Driving Lessons doesn't represent a zenith in the subgenre, and it trades on some feeble character ploys, but it's a kick to watch Julie Walters do a barmy-charmer bit on Rupert Grint. Full Review

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Driving Lessons Trivia

  • Which movie stars both Rupert Grint and Julie Walters?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the young actor who played Ben in Driving Lessons?  Answer »
  • what film did Julie Walters and Rupert Grinch appear in together apart from the Harry Potter films?  Answer »
  • What actor stars in Driving Lessons?  Answer »
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